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Just read the first page so far, but wow that's a whole lot of griping

I don't think I'll ever understand why people get so butthurt over the things that they do. I'm not sure why the occasional tragic love story is such an awful thing.

Well...if you give a look at the others discussion posts about SAO episodes you will find out that the ones with a lot of complains are "almost" always the same people, a fast look at the poll votes is a better way to know peoples opinion about the episode.

I can say now what has been bothering me since the start of ALO... the way the emotions are invested in the game avatars.

In SAO was understandable because they didnt have a real counterpart and being killed meant death. So real life limits are applied. But here is not he case and I find utterly ridiculous how Kazuto spout those heroic dialogues and philosophical rebouts.

In the LN wasnt a problem, I do wonder if the media change is that drastic.

As I see it, not much has changed between the two. I see no reason that the GM couldn't flip a kill switch at any point considering the udder lack of oversight in their management. (Crazy mind experiments, hostages, etc.)

Kirito is now aware that Asuna is here within ALO. It's not a oh, hi, how did you end up within this game kind of thing. I'm quite sure at this point that Kirito must know that her being there is likely Sogou's doing. And if Sogou is capable of at least that much, then you could assume that he could be capable of even more. And Kirito could assume that because of his experience through SAO.

Kirito would die trying to reach Asuna if he must, but like leaving Leefa behind, he clearly doesn't wish to see anyone else hurt for his own desire to be with Asuna. And I believe that his reasoning for leaving Leefa behind is so to keep those that he care of away from the troubles that had carried over from SAO.

As I see it, not much has changed between the two. I see no reason that the GM couldn't flip a kill switch at any point considering the udder lack of oversight in their management. (Crazy mind experiments, hostages, etc.)

Kirito is now aware that Asuna is here within ALO. It's not a oh, hi, how did you end up within this game kind of thing. I'm quite sure at this point that Kirito must know that her being there is likely Sogou's doing. And if Sogou is capable of at least that much, then you could assume that he could be capable of even more. And Kirito could assume that because of his experience through SAO.

Kirito would die trying to reach Asuna if he must, but like leaving Leefa behind, he clearly doesn't wish to see anyone else hurt for his own desire to be with Asuna. And I believe that his reasoning for leaving Leefa behind is so to keep those that he care of away from the troubles that had carried over from SAO.

Well, regarding the way this failed romance played out, it's probably worth saying that -- given that the path was clear for a long time now -- people's opinions about this plot thread have indeed been rather clear for a while now. Indeed, nothing I'm saying or nothing Klashikari is saying or anyone else is really all that different from how we've been approaching it all along, because this was the foregone conclusion. This is just like how, at the end of this arc, I'm sure many people will reiterate their views about the villain when he finally gets defeated.

At the end of the day, it really comes down to your expectations about the show, and what it is that you were hoping for from it. (Or as the case may be, what you enjoyed from the first arc.) There is certainly a group of fans who enjoyed the SAO arc for the sense of tension that the "life and death" situation created. Transitioning to another game where death isn't a present threat with an obviously-doomed romance and an obviously-doomed comical villain is a bit of a culture shock if what attracted you was that sort of "tension". Obviously, you can tell by my posts that this wasn't a factor that personally was key to my own enjoyment, so even though I recognize the "obviousness" of the plot developments, it doesn't deter from my own enjoyment. Indeed, I thought the way this episode played out was quite good in my view. The emotions in the last scene were really intense, even though we all saw it coming.

I think most of the complaints are less about this episode itself, but more about the plot thread on the whole that came to a head here in this episode. And so that's why you'll see opinions generally carried over from week-to-week. This week was just a natural climax to something set in motion many episodes ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klashikari

The problem is exactly as you describe though: Suguha is set as a plot device and not a character on her own: she could be any possible cliché such like the girl nextdoor and her relevancy would be close to null. Instead of being a "complete" character, with her own actions to take regardless of "ALO Kirito existence", she is there just so Kazuto goes through ALO with a "little twist". In fact, her role is slightly better than the likes of Liz...

Eh, I wouldn't go quite that far. While her role as a plot device is key, I thought they actually did a pretty good job of developing her even beyond that. There is actually more to her than just her failed romance, and even that was a lot more convincingly-portrayed. I think there is a place for her going forward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klashikari

If you were to remove the romance aspect, the ALO arc wouldn't be hurt by the slighest: it would actually be possible to have more IRL/in game exposition, than really a focused duo, whereas one is basically going for a dead end.

If the point was to only bring a focus on Kazuto dead set in rescuing Asuna, they could definitely work with Suguha as a true sibling like I mentioned before. Heck, I think Suguha being in love with Kazuto is even less relevant than her being his sister.

I suppose you could do this, but I liked this doomed romance angle to the story, even though it was rather obvious. I think it has value on its own merits, and itself drives and carries the plot. The alternate way you would like the story to be presented is interesting... but hard for me to say if I would enjoy it more. Again, my premise is that just knowing where the plot is heading doesn't negate my enjoyment in the journey. If that weren't the case, I would have given up on anime a long time ago. My own personal view, of course.

I'm sorry, I'm a terrible person. I actually laughed when it got to the big reveal and heartbreak. I found it painfully forced and cliche when I read it, and it felt even more forced and cliche when I watched it. If anything, the entire Fairy Dance arc up to this point was like a really irritating itch that you really really wanted to scratch but you had to wait for someone to finally arrive and scratch it for you. Oh well, at least we finally finished the reveal so we can get to the part of the story that I actually give a damn about.

It's a sort-of spoiler to say this, but every SAO arc is structured fairly differently compared to any other arc so if you didn't like ALO then don't worry, it doesn't happen again. I at least hope Japan doesn't hate ALO as much as I do because otherwise we might not get to see GGO animated.

Well, not gonna leave a long rant, am a novel reader so I saw this one coming ever since they started the SAO anime. but gotta say, this has a very different feel with decent VAs and animation. And I mean both the part where Kirito goes on a rampage of love and when Suguha's heart just shatters to pieces.

Great job and kudos to the anime, very well done episode (like I said, I already knew the plot so I won't rate it )

Edit: Forgot to add and I've mentioned this before, but I believe there is a heavily dialed down sense of pain in the ALO world. definitely nothing like what you'd feel in RL, but I think when kirito and later leafa got shot with those arrows, they felt it. when kirito got impaled by the swords, I think he was just too emotionally numb to care. maybe the arrows are like a paper cut, and the swords are like being punched pretty hard by someone

It's a sort-of spoiler to say this, but every SAO arc is structured fairly differently compared to any other arc so if you didn't like ALO then don't worry, it doesn't happen again. I at least hope Japan doesn't hate ALO as much as I do because otherwise we might not get to see GGO animated.

The execution of the card drop and fight scene were excellent though.

You don't have to worry about that because the show is selling pretty well actually.

Anyone else see Kirito catch on to the confession before Leafa could even get it out just like with Liz.

Kirito: Actually Suguha... I quit kendo... because of you..... because I knew that we weren't my blood siblings.... I have already fantasies, very "nsfw" of you back then.. also I find you really hot in a kendo outfit those.. uhmm yeah... ehem... So before I lose myself and commit a crime, I have to quit kendo and used other means to divert my "puberty induced urgent madness, aka impure thoughts og you" to other stuffs like games for example SAO....

I think this series has some of the best voice acting I've seen for a long time. First from Kirito, then Asuna and now Suguha.

Terrific scene voiced out by Ayanyan. One can really feel her heart being broken twice in there. It's really screwed up and I dun think this will be a story mechanic I'll see again for a very long time.

Am I the only one who thinks this episode sucked?
Kirito spent the first 15 minutes being an overly dramatic, cliched desperate hero, and in the last 5 minutes his conveniently unrelated-by-blood sister confesses her love for him.

This probably was the worst episode since the rushed declaration of love/sex/marriage of Kirito to Asuna back in episode 11(I think).

Am I the only one who thinks this episode sucked?
Kirito spent the first 15 minutes being an overly dramatic, cliched desperate hero, and in the last 5 minutes his conveniently unrelated-by-blood sister confesses her love for him.

This probably was the worst episode since the rushed declaration of love/sex/marriage of Kirito to Asuna back in episode 11(I think).

You probably aren't the only one, but you are very much in the minority.

I gave this episode a 9. Wasn't perfect, but it was an excellent episode. Looking forward to the final episodes to this season and praying for a follow up season later on.

well, the pacing shows i was off with my "sugou is a mid level boss." but man, what an episode for character development! amazing voice acting and fight animation. they really used their budget on this one.